This is the fifth of a series of articles designed to recognize the work of many individuals who were responsible for getting Northwestern Territorial Normal School located in Alva, Oklahoma Territory, in 1897 and for providing leadership to ensure quality education for the critical years that followed. Much of the information in this article can be found in the book "Northwestern Oklahoma State University, A Centennial History" (copyright 1996), written by Wayne Lane.

In order to explain the role of 100 Alva-area citizens, I need to review the steps taken to get Northwestern Normal in Alva as...